Unseasonal rain ravages mango crop in Krishna

VIJAYAWADA: The unseasonal rain that lashed Krishna district on Sunday night, caused extensive damage to mango, banana, papaya and drumstick crops. Mango farmers of Nuzvid, Mylavaram, Gampalagudem, Vissannapet, Agiripalli and Gannavaram mandals suffered a heavy loss as the rain accompanied by gales resulted in heavy fruit drop. About 15 to 20 per cent of the mango crop ready for harvest in 25,166 acres was damaged, according to a preliminary estimate by the Department of Horticulture.Speaking to Express, assistant director of horticulture PM Subhani said the crop loss was heavy in Nuzvid, Vissannapet and Gamplagudem mandals. Mango is one of the main crops . It is cultivated in 62,000 acres in Nuzvid, Mylavaram, Gampalagudem, Vissannapet, Thiruvuru and other mandals in upland areas in the district. The mango farmers had already incurred loss due to adverse weather conditions this year. As a result,  flowering of the crop got delayed. The crop yield is 30 per cent low when compared to last year. In Vijayawada city, power supply was disrupted for a few hours last night following the rain.